Foreclosure Scams – What’s Common & Avoidable!

December 24, 2018

If you are facing foreclosure, it is definitely putting a dent in your life as well as your finances. This situation puts a strain on your overall getting out of debt plan. On top of the stress, if you are subjected to different foreclosure scams, the situation is even worse.

Common Foreclosure Scams

Here are some foreclosure scams that ACCC identifies that can be helpful for you.

Phony counseling or foreclosure rescue scams

The scam artist poses as a counselor and tells you he can negotiate a deal with your lender to modify your loan or save your house if you pay him a fee first. This factor, the upfront fee, is a red flag. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer help with foreclosure for free. The fee may be called a processing or administrative fee. The scammer may even tell you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or housing counselor and that he will handle all the details. He may even insist that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with your lender. Once you pay the fee or a few mortgage payments, the scammer disappears with your money. Of course, you want to avoid foreclosure, but don’t be fooled by an offer that sounds too good to be true.

Fake government modification programs

Some scammers may claim to be affiliated with, or approved by, the government. They may ask you to pay high, up-front fees to “qualify” for government mortgage modification programs. The scammer’s company name and website may sound like a real government agency. However, the website may end with .com or .net instead of .gov. You may also see terms like “federal,” “HAMP,” “MHA,” “HARP” or other words related to official U.S. government programs. Contact your lender first. Your lender will be able to tell you if you qualify for any government programs to prevent foreclosure or modify your loans. Remember, you don’t have to pay to benefit from these programs!

Forensic loan audit

The scammer, who may call himself a forensic loan auditor or mortgage loan auditor, offers to review your mortgage loan documents. He will say he is trying to determine whether your lender complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws. The scammer will usually require that you pay a fee to start the process. The scammer may say that you can use the audit report to:

Avoid foreclosure

Accelerate your loan modification process

Reduce your loan principal

Cancel your loans

Bait & Switch

The scam artist convinces you to sign documents for a “new loan modification” that will make your existing mortgage current. THIS IS A TRICK!!! You actually just signed documents that surrender the title or deed of your house to the scam artist in return for a “rescue” loan.

With something as important as your home, take every precaution! Talk to your lenders or to government approved agencies. Any worthwhile agency will gladly outline their qualifications and have proof of legitimacy. Don’t take a chance! For legitimate assistance in foreclosure prevention, call to speak to one of our certified housing counselors today.

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Dilini is a Marking Communications & Programs Associate at ACCC. To anyone, managing finances can be a real challenge! Any tips and tricks to help get through this is great! Dilini will share her experiences, tips and tricks along the way through the Talking Cents blog. Stay tuned!

About Blog

Talking Cents was created by the staff of the nonprofit organization, American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). Not satisfied with providing credit counseling, debt management, and financial education alone, these renegade employees took to the blogosphere in the hopes of helping not only their current clients, but the rest of the world at large to tackle more of the topics affecting people’s everyday financial lives.